Department of Music

Mission Statement

The music department aims to empower students through study of theory, history, and aesthetics of performance; strives to develop an appreciation of music as a complex means of artistic expression of humanity’s struggle to understand itself; and is committed to the development of dynamic personal experiences with those essential skills necessary to create, teach, perform, and work in their chosen field.

The program encourages each student to exercise aesthetic judgment; think critically; work collaboratively; synthesize and apply principles in the process of performance; engage in creative expression; develop personal discipline and constructive work habits; and foster respect for one’s self, colleagues, audience, and community.

The music program makes available to all students at Mississippi University for Women opportunities to participate in an environment which attempts to propagate, disseminate, and nurture an understanding of the truths which music has to offer, through experiences which are joyful, beautiful, and passionate.

Accreditation

The Department of Music at Mississippi University for Women is an accredited institutional member of the National Association of Schools of Music (NASM) for the B.A. in Music with an emphasis in Music, the Bachelor of Music in Music Education, and the Bachelor of Music in Music Therapy.

The B.M. in Music Education program is approved by the Mississippi State Department of Education and accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education, thereby enabling graduates to satisfy the certification requirements for the State of Mississippi in Music Education.

The Music Therapy program is approved by the American Music Therapy Association.

Music Minor

Requirements for a minor in music include the following 18 semester hours:

Three hours of theoryThree hours of history/literatureFour hours of ensemblesFour hours of applied or class applied musicFour hours of music electives.